India

An absolutely indescribable trip. I learned more in these 10 days about myself, about God, and about others than I have my whole life. It was truly an amazing adventure. I will forever have a special place for these children and these people. 

We were able to open 6 orphanages, 1 church, 3 wells, host 3 conferences, and spread the Good News to THOUSANDS. These are only a few of the many photos. I can not wait to go back!


Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.
James 1:27

She had on so many of her gifts!

Meet Kumar. All the kids stood up and said what they wanted to be. Kumar said, "I want to be a hero." 

Singing at the first house we dedicated. 

These boys were silly! They kept fighting for attention and to get their picture taken. 

Beautiful baby on the way to dedicate the church.

Girl that ran to our bus to say goodbye after the church dedication. 

The amazing organization that makes all this happen!

Pretty much what I ate for 10 days. We got the chance to eat with the kiddos at some houses. 

A man looking on as we were approaching one of the houses. 

She was given gloves. A gift I'm not sure she will use often. She had actually never seen gloves or socks. I had to explain how to wear them. She originally had her socks on her hands and the gloves on the wrong hands.

The whole team! We gave our bags of gifts then every child also got a sweet backpack full of tons of school supplies.

A few of the beautiful girls. 

Meet Magna. She holds a special place in my heart. She was orphaned at the age of 3 due to a motorcycle accident. She is now 6. She is full of so much life and is so gracious. She has joy in her heart. As she opened her gifts she gave me a kiss, a hug, and a big Thank You! She has no idea how much she affected my life. I pray I meet Magna again this side of Heaven.


Join me in prayer for the nations!
What pulls are your heart? Do you even know yet? I didn't know until I started praying.
If you don't know where to start, maybe start here:
1. India
2. 10/40 Window
3. T.H.U.M.B.


Start asking where you are NEEDED! Your life is so important and you are needed somewhere. Your gifts, passions, personality, thoughts, desires, and abilities are not an accident. They are a gift from our Maker.  They are needed to reach someone for His glory. He wants to use everything about you for a bigger purpose. The Lord will use you as His vessel. Ask Him to reveal to you where and what that means.  Be ready for your world to be rocked. It's a pretty sweet ride.


Now that I have seen, I am responsible. Faith without deeds is dead.
"Albertine" - Brooke Fraser

MY FIRST MARATHON!

The journey started Fall 2009. I started running. Why did I start running? I remember bending down at work and getting back up hurt immensely. I was 23 and my body seriously felt like it was 50. I was completely out of shape. When I started running, I was terrible. For years, I always had a goal to run a half marathon. So, for 2010, I made my goal to run not only my first one but two that year. I completed both of those.
1st - OKC - April 2010
2nd - Fayetteville - December 2010.

I then just ran for fun. I wanted to just like running instead of running to train. I did for most of the year. Then I got the itch for another long distance race... in comes the itch for the marathon!

I trained, signed up, and FINISHED!

My goal: 26.2 in 4:20
My finish (according to my watch): 26.2 in 4:20!!!!
My chip time: 26.59 in 4:23

I'm glad I have a watch... I guess I should go by the posted time but I am proud that I know I did do a full marathon in my goal time :)

Yes, I will do more. I will do more half marathons than marathons probably but I will do more marathons. The race day excitement is so addicting. I literally love it.

I also want to say a few things to anyone reading this. A marathon might sound intimidating but I want to be the first to tell you:

 YOU CAN DO IT. You can do WHATEVER you put your mind to. 

I was actually inspired to do a full because of my favorite show - The Biggest Loser. These people go from being completely inactive and overweight to completely turning their lives around. All because they have a drive, a desire, and they have support. They are running a marathon by the end of the show. If someone can go from not being able to walk a mile, to finishing a marathon, surely I can do this. I started on my journey determined to do this. 

I have fallen in love with running. I'll be honest, it took a while. However, I have to say that one of my favorite things to do, is to wake up long before sunrise and head out on a long run. It's quiet, it's peaceful. I can hear God. We talk. I have a clear mind. The world is right. I love it so much. I finish and I have such peace. I understand that some people just don't feel the same way about running. That's fine, but I want to encourage you to find that activity that allows you to let go of everything. To simply have a conversation with your Maker. To clear your mind of everything that seems to be a big deal. To push your body to limits that you didn't believe were possible. It's an amazing feeling when you take care of yourself and when you conquer goals that have endings impossible to imagine. 

I have to say also that the only way that I can complete the things I do is through Christ. Christ gives me strength. When my body is sore and tired, my Savior heals me and makes me strong again. He is my ultimate running buddy. 

I also have a wonderful earthly support system. Without the people in my life that support me, that ran with me to get me hooked on running, that follow me throughout my races, that take photos, that send encouraging words and prayers... Without these people I wouldn't be as strong. I have major blessings in my life.

 The Lord has blessed me with such support that I must share that with others. If you are reading this, I would love to run with you. You are not too slow, too out of shape, or too anything to get started. It just takes the first step!

Sea Grove, FL

One of my friends from high school was getting married recently in Florida so the whole family took a trip to see her get hitched and to have some fun of our own! 

 We took pictures on the beach one night. My older brother and I worked our amateur photography skills. I'd say we did all right! (We even have a smiling baby in all the photos!) 

The photos are a little out of order but this is a little of the trip!

I saved my favorite for last :) She can turn any bad day right around! 

Baseball vs. Mississippi State

Sooooo... I do like to photograph baseball games but at this game there was a cute little girl that kept stealing the show. Lots of up-close photos for this post. I couldn't decide so I just put several. She's just such a beauty! 

 

This is proof we were actually at a baseball game! That fella was out! Yahoo!

King's River Falls

It was roaring! The falls were so pretty! There were multiple falls but this one was the largest. There was also a gorgeous field before we arrived at the waterfalls. It was so green and pretty!

My favorite!!

I got to stay with the sweet girl last week. We had fun playing 'way up high' and going upside down and of course tons of fun in "The circle of FUN"! She finally smiled when I took a picture. I was proud... can you tell? 

I wish soooo badly this photo wasn't blurry below!!! But I do love her pretty eyes in this one even if it did turn out blurry. AH what a beginner!

 At the end EG spoke up and said "I want a picture with my favorite person in the whole world!" 

Why am I her favorite? 

1. I took this photo.

2. It's my blog.